Syracuse, NY -- A gunman who critically wounded one brother in an ambush that left another brother dead was spared years in prison today by an unlikely source -- the victims' mother.

Abigail Ortiz wrote the judge a letter in support of Maximino Alvarez, who had been charged as an accomplice in the murder of her elder son, Andre Rosario-Claudio.

Instead, Alvarez pleaded guilty to wounding Andre's younger brother, Edgardo, and testified against two others at trial. The others, Efrain Santos and Pedro Romero, were sentenced last week to 50 years to life in prison in the June 2013 death in front of 120 Sabine St.

For telling the truth -- and for accepting responsibility -- Alvarez won the support of the victims' mother, Abigail Ortiz.

"I have never, ever seen anything like the letter Mrs. Ortiz sent to this court," County Court Judge Thomas J. Miller said.

Speaking directly to her, the judge added: "You are a person that this community should look up to. You are a source of strength and courage that I've never seen."

Ortiz said she believed Alvarez was scared the day he agreed to open fire on the victims at the orders of Efrain Santos, said defense lawyer Paul Carey.

The judge had promised Alvarez a sentence of 15 to 20 years in prison for assault in the shooting of Edgardo. Miller said he wasn't overly impressed with Alvarez's testimony during trial and wasn't swayed by letters of support from loved ones or prosecutor Matthew Doran's positive remarks.

"If this sentence is OK with Mrs. Ortiz, then it's OK with Judge Miller," said the judge, using his trademark style of speaking in the third person.

Alvarez spoke emotionally to the victims' family, thanking them for forgiveness.

"Even after all you lost, and all the pain and suffering, you still found it in your heart to forgive me for what I did," Alvarez said, turning to face Ortiz. "Setting all that aside, you still found it in your heart to make a bond with my family and yours, in peace and friendship."

After Alvarez's words, Ortiz responded between tears: "You're welcome." Members of both families wept.

In an almost unprecedented move, the judge called Ortiz up to the bench after sentencing to offer his personal appreciation for her actions. He then had Alvarez come back into court so Ortiz could address him directly.

"I don't hold any grudge against you or your family," Ortiz told him. "From the bottom of my heart, I wish you the best of luck."